72 CKULSE OF 'J'llK STEAM EM CORWIN. 



moment oiir fours inorcisod that W(> were to he doomcil In (lisaiJiioiiilincnt. Thus we drifted 

 onward, tired and des])ondent, when, abont a half mile lielow, a clumi) of willows was seen, 

 aronnd and tlirougli which tlie waters of the swullcii v'wv.v weie wasliinj^, and, as a la>t hope, 

 the canoe was turned toward it. As we wei'e home swiftly by 1 reco<j;ni/,ed the spot, and with 

 an exchimation "f joy we droppeil our j)a.ddles and <;Tas])ed the overhanti-injj; bontflis to clieek 

 the mad career of tlie canoe. A nionimt later the jireeious Imi-ilcn was laslied to tlie liiilarka, 

 and we determined to seek the tirsl suitable jilarc for canipini;;. ]t was now very late, and the 

 western skies, still li.i^htened by the midnight sun, ,i^-inded us to a J'esting ])lace. where f)ur long, 

 adventni'ous journey was h,-ip|)il>' at an end. 



Tlie next morning was hright and cheerful, a beautiful contrast to the weeks of storm 

 which we had (experienced, and our spirits wei'e in accord with the day. 'I'he long and arduous 

 task of the piTvious day caused us to sleep late, and it was iiot until lOo'clock that we saw the 

 light of the sun. As soon as jiossible all of (Hir wet ami daniagecl outfit was spread to dry, and 

 a few hours later everything was in oi'der again. Atnoon. J obtained a meridian altitude, and 

 during the remaimler of the day ]irepareil I'm' the eoiil inii.-iiice ol' our journey on the following 

 morning. 



It was a nuitter of congi'atulation that we sncceedeil in reaehing'oni' cache, for, as I had 

 anticipated, the river routiuued to rise duringthe night, anda vei-y few hours latei- would have 

 swept away onr sujijilies. The long race wasone of excitement and novelty, and having liter- 

 ally as well as figuratively ""saved our liacou." we had ample provision to carry us to the coast. 

 Before starting next morning we indulged in the luxury of a hearty meal, a ydeasure which we 

 had not enjoyed for some weeks past. 



Our path now lay through the mountain ilistriet. by far the most interesting section of th(^ 

 river. The pleasure and excitement of a trij) through the mountains can hardly be realized ; 

 the narrow defiles and deep canons, beautiful valleys, and rolling hills, afford such a variety 

 of scenery that the eye never tires, and scene passes scene only too (|uicl<ly. It was pleasant as 

 we glided along to regard the swiftly moving banks ; the "tracking line," together with the 

 attendant toil and the involuntary baths, were now things of the past, and the genuine comfort 

 afforded by the reflection was fully worth the weeks of labor expended in its attainment. 



The river had fallen about eight feet during the ])ast day ; indeed, that peculiarity was one 

 of the most noteworthy, showing conclusively that the volume is due entirely to the rain and 

 ■snow fall and not to a constantsup])ly. Having an aliundauee ol" time, wr ])roceeded leisurely, 

 using our paddles only sufficiently to afford steerage-way, ami at ;i |). m. Avent into camji. 



During the remainder of the day we replenished onr larder with game, an abTindance of 

 water-fowl being f'tjund on a nei?;"hlioring lake. The weather still ci)ntinued stormy, with rain 

 and Avesterly winds. aJthough much warmei- than that experienced on the table-lands. 



Being desiroTis of obtaining mei'idiaii observations at this])oint. we did not bestir on i-selves 

 until late next morning : meanwhile we em])loyed our time with necessary overhauling until 

 about 11 o'clock, whenl directed Nelson to launch tli(^ boat- a.nd pi-e|iare for getting under way. 

 After obtaining altitudes we again launche(l forth on the swift cui-rent. 



The work of traveling was now comparatively light ; the paddles were plied easily in order 

 to give the canoe steerage-w'ay, although the fre(|uent recurrence of i'ai)ids rendered a sharp 

 l(jok(nit necessary. About 2 o'clock we entered the foot-hills of the ran.i;-e through which the 

 riverflowsbefoi-eitsfinal entry into the flatlandsbelow. Lateintheeveningwegained the rapids 

 above the canons, and. with a common imi)uls(\ grasped the paddles for the coTuing struggle. 

 Finally, aflei- rounding a sharp I ui-n. t he caTions suddenly loomeil ii|i ahead. Ihe lofty walls of 

 which towered hundi"e<ls of feet above us. Swiftly we wei-e drawn in by the rushing waters 

 and soon gained the gloomy depths of the goi-ge. E\-ery faculty was now on the ;ilei-t. forthe 

 dangers seemeil to multiply a-s we advanceil. The wild rush of the I'ivei', mingled with tlie 

 scream of tine eagles a,ud the ma.dly dashing canoe, a,ll eonfrilmled to (he excitement of the 

 moment. 



Tlite walls of thecanoiis for'in an interesi ini;-geo|ogicaf study, all lioui;h I Mil lilt leopjiort unity 

 was given us duringthe jiassage I hrough to nole(h(e many" points of interest. The remai'kalile 

 figures formed hy the bent ami twistcMl strata, apparently the result of some violent convulsion 



